Page 28 - OutdoorOK2024MayJune ONLINE

PARTNERSHIPS GROWING AT RANGES ACROSS THE STATE

From one corner of the state to the next, partnerships the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation (OWCF).
have been and will be a critical piece of shooting range con- Silverleaf Shotgun Sports has been to improve their facilities
struction and renovations. While each project is different in partnership with the Wildlife Department.
in scope and details, the one thing that they share is that The National Rifle Association provided key funding for
the collaborative relationships lead to win-win-wins, for the the renovated range at the Lexington Wildlife Management
Wildlife Department, for its partners, and most importantly Area. Since 2017, ODWC has applied for a half-dozen NRA
for hunters and recreational shooters. public range grants totaling $68,000 in donations towards
For example, Oklahoma Panhandle State University is home new ranges or renovations, the latest being $25,000 for
to a first-class shooting facility, and one is also in the works with Optima Shooting Range renovation.
the City of Altus. In both cases, the partnering organizations OWCF is a great place to donate for upcoming projects
provided match funds. The future archery range at Arcadia that will soon begin construction. For more information, log
Conservation Education Area has received major support from on to https://okwildlifefoundation.org.
AMANDA THOMAS/ODWC DON P. BROWN/ODWC

The Optima WMA shooting range, seen here, will undergo renovations From left, Nels Rodefeld, Chief of Communication and
and improvement thanks in part of to a generous donation from the NRA. Education for ODWC; Amanda Thomas, ODWC Shooting Range
Coordinator; Peter Churchbourne, Director of NRA’s Hunters’
Leadership Forum; and Wade Free, ODWC Interim Director.

The Public Range Fund of the National Rifle
BERM ADA Parking Association donated $25,000 for matching federal

BERM 100 Yards grant funding.
Covered Shooting Station
Peter Churchbourne, director of the NRA’s Hunters’
BERM
Leadership Forum, presented the donation to ODWC
50 Yards
BERM Covered Shooting Station in February 2024. It will be used to help pay for addi-
tions and renovation at the public shooting range at
Optima Wildlife Management Area.
Optima WMA shooting range site plan. By leveraging this donation with matching federal
funds, a potential $100,000 will be available.
“We have made significant Liz Bush, managing director of NRA Community
progress with planning, ren- Engagement, said, “NRA Range Services is grate-
ovating, and constructing ful that we can be a part of this essential expan-
shooting ranges on our wild- sion and improvement to the ranges at the Optima
life management areas, and Wildlife Management Area to benefit the people
we are excited to continue of Oklahoma.”
to increase public shooting “Public ranges allow hundreds of thousands of
access across the state.” hunters, competitive shooters, and target shoot-
— Amanda Thomas, Shooting Range Coordinator, ers to work on their marksmanship under safe
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and responsible conditions,” Bush said.

6 TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!